In our season finale, hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey get to the heart of innovation by revisiting the standout moments from season one of "Just Say Hackathon."  They explored how companies like Amtrak, Rocket Mortgage, and Dell Technologies foster innovation in their organizations.

You'll hear stories that go beyond traditional business strategies, offering real-world insights into how organizations blend creativity with structured processes. And ultimately, expect to learn how hackathons are not just tools for innovation, but cultural drivers that help organizations thrive.

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00] Welcome to the show

[01:05] Why innovation is a core cultural element

[03:22] Backstories of innovators and their impact on innovation

[05:37] Ego’s role in resisting change within organizations

[07:50] Innovation vs. human nature’s need for stability

[10:05] Amtrak’s use of 3D printing for problem-solving

[13:18] Emotional investment in running hackathons (Pritesh at Lookout)

[15:35] Structured work enabling unstructured innovation

[18:09] Hackathon rituals and team culture-building

[20:45] Final takeaways from Season 1

Connect with us:

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - https://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Kfir Godrich is a pioneer in technological innovation and a leader at BlackRock, where he drives groundbreaking advancements in AI and containerization. With a background that spans C4ISR environments, data centers, and transformative roles at companies like HP, Kfir sits down with Margaret Kelsey and Matt Greeley to share his knowledge and experience.

In this episode, Kfir shares insights on how forward-thinking investments in technology and strategic mergers and acquisitions can secure a competitive edge. He elaborates on BlackRock's Aladdin platform, client-driven innovation processes, and the critical role of maintaining symbiotic relationships with clients to fuel continuous advancements. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Client-Driven Innovation and Symbiotic Relationships: Kfir emphasizes the impact of client needs and feedback in driving technological innovation at BlackRock. Developing their Aladdin software, pivoting from hardware to software innovations, and adopting containerization with Docker were all responses to client demands. This approach ensures that innovations address current needs and anticipate future demands, creating a robust and forward-looking platform.
• Democratizing AI and Ideation Platforms: Kfir discusses the efforts to democratize AI within the firm and the creation of a continuous ideation platform, BrightIdea. This platform facilitates constant innovation and IP creation, moving from traditional annual hackathons to more fluid and accessible idea generation. This approach enables fast development cycles and keeps the organization agile and responsive to rapid technological advancements, including generative AI.
• Technological Evolution and the Importance of Structured Thinking: As technological advancement grows, the timelines for adopting and integrating innovations are shrinking. This necessitates a structured approach to ideation and implementation, ensuring efforts are focused and effective. Kfir’s insights on the cyclical nature of technology waves and the importance of understanding market trends provide a strategic lens for innovation professionals to manage ongoing technological shifts.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret 

01:09 Meet Kfir Godrich

02:04 Kfir's Career Path

02:47 The Telecom Boom and Market Dynamics

05:14 Technological Innovations and Market Savvy

07:24 Economics in Technology

13:14 BlackRock and the Aladdin Software

25:57 Kfir's journey to the US and HP

30:41 The Origin of Aladdin's Name

32:01 Managing Data and the Green Package

35:44 BlackRock's Technological Edge

36:56 Innovation at BlackRock

40:55 AI and Future Innovations

45:10 Ideation Platforms are Powerful

57:02 Closing

Connect with us:

Kfir Godrich on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kfir-godrich-a72a9a1/

BlackRock - https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - https://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Elizabeth Bright is a leader in sustainable materials and innovative adhesive technologies at 3M. With a portfolio that spans product development, ethnographic research, and front-end innovation, Elizabeth sits down with hosts Margaret Kelsey and Matt Greeley to share how 3M uses Hackathons to create a competitive edge in innovation.

In this episode, Elizabeth explains her work on optimizing adhesives for recycled materials, the science behind products like Cushion Lock, and her role in fostering a culture of innovation at 3M. She speaks openly about product development trials, the emotional rollercoaster of dissertation defenses, and her passion for mentoring the next generation of innovators.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Innovative Culture Supports Failure and Risk-Taking: Elizabeth emphasizes that innovation requires a tolerance for failure. The best ideas thrive in environments where experiments can fail, learnings are embraced, and teams are driven to make those ideas succeed.
• Personal & Professional Growth through Making: Elizabeth shares how her upbringing in her dad's upholstery shop influenced her creator mentality, underlining the importance of making and improving things personally. This hands-on approach helped her problem-solving skills, contributing to her professional journey in innovation and product development at 3M.
• The Power of Cross-Functional Hackathons: The episode shows the necessity of cross-functional Hackathons in driving innovation at 3M. These collaborative events bring diverse teams together, from marketers to engineers, fostering an environment that generates novel ideas and prototypes that can evolve into robust, commercial products.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret and special guest Elizabeth Bright

03:31 Liz Bright’s background and academic journey

09:11 The importance of choosing the right advisor

13:30 Utilization of small-angle X-ray scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance

19:00 Launching notthesciencetype.com for blending science with creativity

27:22 Liz explains how she navigated her current role

36:41 Liz’s creativity portfolio and the benefits of it

43:59 What hackathons look like at 3M

46:47 The role of frontend and what that looks like

53:09 ​​The individual contributor route versus the management route

57:47 Creative hackathon concept

1:01:02 Make hackathons fun

1:05:55 Closing

Connect with us:

Elizabeth Bright on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erbright/

3M - https://www.3m.com/

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Veronika Vacek and Matt Arnold are leaders in the innovation space for Brightidea. Veronika, with her rich background at a Fortune 500 financial services firm, and Matt, an expert with a diverse career in broadcast, film, UX, and design, share the interplay between humanity and technology in their careers and the importance of communication in innovation.

In this episode, Veronkia and Matt share the intricacies of orchestrating a successful hackathon, remote work challenges and the impact of digital transformation, how hackathons provide a unique opportunity for employees to innovate and connect in a meaningful way, and the vital role of senior leadership support in fostering an innovative organizational culture.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Significance of Hackathons: Matt and Veronika discuss the role of hackathons in driving innovation within organizations. They highlight how these events provide a unique opportunity to tap into creative skill sets, foster collaboration, and inject positivity into the workplace.
• Crafting Effective Hackathons: Veronika shares insights on the planning and execution of successful hackathons. She emphasizes the importance of detailed organization, clear communication, and early involvement of various departments to ensure smooth flow and maximum participation.
• Balancing Structure and Creativity: Matt discusses the balance between providing structure and fostering creativity during hackathons. He shares the necessity of setting the right level of support to minimize anxiety and fear, while also creating enough space for innovation to thrive. 

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret, and special guests Veronika Vacek and Matt Arnold

05:30 Finding creative spaces in a post-covid world

12:40 Using hackathons as opportunities for creative skillsets

16:45 Differences between hackathons, pitch competitions, and ideathons

20:10 Personal career journeys

28:50 Importance of early planning, aligning teams, and considering logistics

34:30 Essential elements of a successful hackathon

40:00 Detailed phases of hackathon events from planning to post-event activities

47:10 The need for organizations to adapt rapidly and the cultural fragility around innovation and failure

Connect with us:

Veronika Vacek on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronika-vacek/

Matt Arnold on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmatthewarnold/

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Karina Kudinova is a leading innovation strategist at Dell Technologies, where she plays a role in shaping and driving creative solutions across international teams. With a background in managing cross-functional projects, Karina shares her expertise in turning innovative concepts into actionable strategies as she sits down with hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey. 

In this episode, Karina shares the methods she uses at Dell to create an atmosphere that encourages diverse thinking and collaboration. She shares her approach to overcoming common barriers in innovation and offers practical advice on how to develop the collective genius of a team to drive results.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Creating an Innovation-Driven Culture: Karina emphasizes the importance of creating a workplace culture where creativity and innovation are not just encouraged but systematically supported. She shares strategies on how leaders can create an environment where team members feel empowered to take risks and explore new ideas.
• Overcoming Barriers to Collaboration: One of the major challenges in innovation is breaking down silos within organizations, especially ones that are international. Karina discusses effective methods for encouraging cross-functional collaboration, ensuring that diverse perspectives are integrated into the innovation process, leading to more robust and successful outcomes.
• Practical Steps for Turning Ideas into Action: Karina shares advice on moving from ideation to execution. She outlines the critical steps that teams at Dell take to transform innovative concepts into tangible results, highlighting the importance of structure, clear communication, and iterative feedback loops in the innovation process.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret and special guest Karina Kudinova

01:42 Transition to Dell and Initial Hackathon Experiences

05:56 Scaling Hackathons Globally

08:46 The Role of Innovation Programs Beyond Hackathons

12:32 Managing and Growing the Hackathon Program

18:02 Impact of COVID-19 on Hackathons and Innovation at Dell

22:20 Details of the Hackathon Process and Participation

28:46 The Importance of Patents and Post-Hackathon Outcomes

34:41 Managing Global Participation and Local Events

42:01 Future of Innovation at Dell and Expanding Hackathons

Connect with us:

Karina Kudinova on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinakudinova/

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Katlin Arps is the Vice President of Product for Brightidea, where she is known for her extensive experience in product management across various industries, from healthcare to retail. 

In this episode, Katlin, along with hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey, discusses the logistical and emotional benefits of Hackathons, emphasizing their role in driving innovation and engagement within organizations. They also touch on the critical aspects of planning, nurturing ideas, and ensuring long-term success while discussing the evolving nature of innovation events and the significance of understanding and meeting the needs of diverse participants.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Enterprise-Wide Hackathons as a Solution for Growth and Engagement: Employers are struggling with achieving growth and engaging a disengaged workforce. By incorporating competitive and collaborative events like Hackathons, organizations can inject energy and creativity into their teams, providing employees with a sense of ownership and involvement in business strategy.
• Importance of Preparation and Emotional Investment: Katlin emphasizes the significance of proper preparation time before launching hackathons or similar events, recommending a two to three-week window for project collaboration and idea development. This phase allows participants to nurture their ideas and emotionally commit to them, enhancing the quality of the innovation process. 
• Balancing Human Engagement with Technological Solutions: The combination of a versatile platform and a dedicated services team ensures that clients are supported throughout the process, preventing common pitfalls and building "muscle memory" for future events. Katlin shares that software alone cannot resolve people problems; instead, ongoing human coaching and engagement are key to fostering a passionate and committed workforce.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret and special guest Katlin Arps

02:31 Engaging remote workers and fostering an innovation mindset through hackathons

08:01 The different manifestations of hackathons

12:50 The challenges of understanding pain points across different organizations

16:42 The needs of different types of participants: solo entrepreneurs, teams, those needing guidance

23:11 Katlin’s background, experience in healthcare, retail, and product management

41:50 The interplay of cultural and technological changes in hackathon implementation

56:21 The parallels between hackathons and elementary school field days

59:00 Closing

Connect with us:

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey
Katlin Arps on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katlinmcnallyarps/

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Giovanna Martosella is a Senior Program Manager on the innovation team at Amtrak. She sits down with hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey to share her experiences with technology and innovation across different countries and organizations.

Giovanna shares Amtrak's future plans for creating a culture of innovation, including a formalized process for idea submission and review. She discusses the challenges of organizing hackathons in a large corporation and the strategies employed to overcome them. Giovanna also outlines the structure of Amtrak’s digital technology group and its collaboration with the innovation team, highlighting the diverse skill sets that contribute to the company's innovation initiatives.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Building an Innovation Culture in Large Organizations: Giovanna emphasizes the importance of cultural change within large organizations like Amtrak. By hosting quarterly hackathons and pitch events that encourage creativity and cross-functional collaboration, Amtrak is creating a culture of innovation. This approach not only democratizes innovation but also ensures that the generated ideas are grounded in real-world operational challenges. 
• Challenges and Strategies in Organizing Hackathons: Giovanna explains the necessity of understanding the organization's culture and being patient with the time it takes to see cultural change. This structured yet inclusive approach ensures that hackathons are not just about coding but are broad focus events aimed at finding creative solutions to business problems.
• The Role and Impact of Digital Technology and Sustainability Efforts: Amtrak’s digital technology group plays a critical role in enhancing both employee and customer experiences through various projects related to the app, website, and operational systems. These initiatives prove how innovation at Amtrak goes beyond mere technology to include service design and foresight, aiming for a holistic improvement in operations and customer satisfaction.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret, and special guest Giovanna Martosella

00:07:08 Amtrak's Innovation Team and Role
00:12:27 Innovation Programs at Amtrak.

00:14:49 Hackathons at Amtrak
00:17:26 Challenges and Evolution of Hackathons
00:17:36 Role of Digital Technology Team in Hackathons

00:18:34 Operational Challenges and PI Planning 
00:21:22 Involving Frontline Employees
00:26:49 Importance of Diversity of Thought in Innovation
00:32:02 Future Goals for Amtrak's Innovation Program

00:47:14 Advice for New Innovation Teams for their first hackathons

00:51:24 Cultural Change and Persistence in Innovation

00:59:24 Rail Trips and Recommendations

01:03:23 Closing

Connect with us:

Giovanna Martosella on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gmartosella/

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Ben Wasson and Everett Hagan serve as innovation leaders at SS&C Advent, a global company in the wealth and asset management market. They sit down with hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey to discuss the role of clearly defining objectives to align innovation strategies, as well as the value of leadership engagement in promoting and sustaining collaborative initiatives.

In this episode, Ben and Everett discuss the importance of understanding goals, the power of outreach efforts, and the challenges of innovating without traditional support. They also touch on using Hackathons as a catalyst for innovation and the importance of leadership involvement in these events.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Understanding Goals Before Process: Ben Wasson emphasizes the crucial role of understanding the goals of an initiative before determining the process. This approach ensures that innovation efforts are aligned with organizational objectives, thereby increasing the likelihood of success and maximizing resource allocation.

• The Challenges and Necessity of Proving Value: The discussion around the challenges faced when launching innovation initiatives, touches on a common hurdle within organizations. Highlighting the importance of demonstrating tangible value can help innovation leaders plan better rollouts and anticipate obstacles.

• The Balance Between Sprinting and Marathoning in Innovation: The analogy of a Hackathon being a sprint and an innovation program being a marathon proves the importance of pacing and perseverance in driving long-term innovation. Understanding this helps organizations set realistic expectations and build sustainable innovation practices that can deliver consistent results over time.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret, and special guests Ben Wasson and Everett Hagan

04:32 How Ben and Everett got into the financial space

12:03 How innovation started to solidify for SS&C Advent

16:45 Creating something that would live beyond us

19:52 Making innovation not feel like a to-do task

24:33 How SS&C Advent is operating across different levels

31:24 Developing an innovative mindset

35:52 When SS&C Advent started using Hackathons

40:38 How often global Hackathons are taking place

44:00 Permissionless innovation

54:15 Culture changes at SS&C Advent

59:26 What Ben and Everett would tell their younger selves about Hackathons

Connect with us:

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey
Everett Hagan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/everetthagan/

Ben Wasson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminwasson/ 

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Jordan LaFramboise is the Director of Innovation Programs at RKT Holdings. He sits down with hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey to share his insights into creating a culture that supports and enhances productivity through creative engagement.

In this episode, Jordan explains the key aspects of continuous improvement, discussing barriers such as time constraints and context switching and offering strategies to overcome them. He also explores the impacts of hackathons on employee engagement and innovation, emphasizing the importance of leadership support and the integration of unstructured time into the workflow.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Importance of an Inclusive and Engaging Innovation Culture: Jordan LaFramboise stresses the need to integrate a planned innovation process into the workflow, ensuring engagement from both the business side and external partners. Hackathons and similar programs have been effective in promoting inclusivity by involving diverse teams across different departments.
• Balancing Structured and Unstructured Time for Innovation: Jordan highlights the success of programs like "Bullet Time," which provide technology team members with dedicated periods for innovation. This balance has led to tangible results, such as the development of generative AI and other machine learning models significantly contributing to the company’s revenue.
• Leadership Support and Emotional Safety in Fostering Innovation: Jordan shares personal anecdotes showing the value of leadership empathy and vulnerability as key drivers in fostering a safe space for creativity. This embeds a culture of trust and resilience and helps individuals feel safe to take risks, potentially fail, and ultimately drive innovation.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret, and special guest Jordan LaFramboise

01:25 How Jordan got into the innovation space

05:31 Integrating innovation into the workflow

07:51 Jordan’s example of a great leader experience

12:46 Tracking value and visibility in a culture of innovation

16:21 Hackathons and employee engagement post-COVID

20:01 Developing a culture of emotional safety and leadership support

25:01 Traditional versus innovation-driven engagement

35:01 Hollistic engagement and human connections

45:16 The emotional challenges in innovation

50:01 Success stories and the impact of hackathons

54:31 Closing

Connect with us:

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Jordan LaFramboise on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-laframboise

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Pritesh Kasliwal serves as the Director of Innovation and Patents at Lookout, a leading cloud security company, and feels that innovation can’t be a checkbox on a to-do list. He sits down with hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey to discuss his impressive career path, which spans roles at Red Hat, IBM, General Electric, and a legal firm. He offers a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on fostering innovation within organizations.

In this episode, Pritesh delves into the intricacies of cultivating an innovative mindset, the importance of mental space for creativity, and the value of personal relationships in driving innovation. He also touches upon the challenges of balancing short-term goals with long-term innovation and how hackathons can serve as a platform for exploring groundbreaking ideas.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Continuous Innovation Culture: Pritesh Kasliwal stresses the importance of embedding innovation and creativity into a team's everyday operations rather than relying solely on sporadic events like hackathons. This approach fosters a perpetual environment of innovation, promoting long-term growth and adaptability within the organization.
• Cross-Departmental Engagement in Innovation: Encouraging cross-departmental collaboration drives holistic problem-solving and brings fresh, varied insights to the table, strengthening the organization's overall innovation capacity.
• The Dual Impact of Hackathons: Understanding hackathons' broader impact underscores their importance not just for short-term achievements but also for sustaining long-term innovation culture and team dynamism.

Jump into the conversation: 

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt and Margaret, and special guest Pritesh Kasliwal

06:01 Difference between working with larger and smaller teams 

12:46 Similarities between R&D engineering and doing patent work

19:57 Hackathon set-up

23:01 Passion behind Hackathons

25:59 Hackathon being open to participants from various sectors

27:49 How Lookout is embracing AI

32:35 Utilizing AI to your advantage

35:50 Impact of Hackathons on organizations

39:13 Definition of a successful hackathon

40:51 ROI from Hackathons

43:47 Business process behind hackathons

45:58 The future of hackathons

48:03 Maintaining a consistent mental space for innovation and creativity

50:09 Advice for those who want to run hackathons

53:24 On fostering an innovative and creative mindset within the organization

Connect with us:

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey
Pritesh Kasliwal on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pritesh-kasliwal 

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/

Welcome to the first episode of The Synthesize Pod, where we introduce you to innovation junkies and hosts Matt Greeley, CEO of Brightidea, and Margaret Kelsey, Advisor to innovative startups. Together, they set up what you can expect this season as we tell you everything you’ll need to know about hackathons. They cover the importance of hackathons as a catalyst for deep work and collaborative innovation and how adopting an innovation mindset is crucial for businesses to stay competitive and thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. 

In this episode, you’ll learn about: 

• How hackathons create unique environments where employees can dedicate uninterrupted time to focus on innovative projects. Hackathons are a gateway to "deep work," allowing participants to focus intensely on solving problems without daily job distractions. This concentrated effort fosters creativity and accelerates the development of innovative solutions.
• Hackathons empower employees, especially those closest to pain points, to develop and pitch innovative ideas. By facilitating collaboration and shared decision-making across various departments, hackathons break down silos and encourage a collective approach to problem-solving. This bottom-up innovation framework enables fresh and practical solutions that might otherwise remain untapped.
• Innovation is a strategic necessity in a rapidly changing world. With everyday managers adopting innovation mindsets and younger generations driving fresh ideas, companies must prioritize innovation to maintain competitive advantage and avoid being outpaced by external innovations. The focus on hackathons as a strategic tool to drive this shift highlights the importance of continuous adaptation and the willingness to embrace new approaches to thrive in an evolving landscape.

Jump into the conversation:

00:00 Introduction to The Synthesize Pod with hosts Matt Greeley and Margaret Kelsey

02:01 The critical role and importance of innovation

06:01 Human drive for innovation

09:01 The role of hackathons in promoting deep focus and intense work

12:31 Collaboration and bottom-up innovation

16:01 Empowering the younger generation 

19:01 Broad scope of hackathons

22:31 Innovation, fear of failure, and play

26:01 Historical context and impact of the podcast

28:31 Shifting business mindsets

31:01 Ensuring longevity and profitability for business survival

34:01 Personal reflections in innovation's transformative power

Connect with us:

Brightidea - www.brightidea.com
More on Hackathons - http://www.brightidea.com/hackathon 

Matt Greeley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgreeley/ 

Margaret Kelsey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-kelsey

Brightidea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightidea/ 

Managing the backlog of ideas and challenges within the company can be daunting. Figuring out which issues to address first can be paralyzing.

Brought to you by Brightidea and our premiere community for innovators, this is the Synthesize Pod.

A podcast committed to helping visionaries like you drive change and innovation through practical, real-world examples.